Day in the life of an expat in Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

What does a day in the life of an expat in the Netherlands look like? Follow along to see a typical day in Amsterdam-from working in the office to experiencing a Dutch "borrel" to watching the sunset on the beach in The Hague (yes there are beaches in the Netherlands!)
Cheers,
David
⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:11 700AM - Wake-up (Amsterdam)
02:06 840AM - Morning walk
02:51 915AM - Start work
04:06 1100AM - Office
04:28 1230PM - Lunch
05:37 430PM - Borrel
06:39 540PM - Train to The Hague
06:48 630PM - Rent bike
07:46 730PM - The Hague beach
08:08 900PM - Sunset (The Hague)
📽 OTHER VIDEOS:
💶 Cost of Living (Amsterdam) - • How much does it cost ...
🏠 Living in a Dutch Canal House - • Apartment Tour: 400-ye...
🇺🇸 USA vs. Europe - • USA vs. Europe: Live t...
🙏 IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT ME:
Buy me a coffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/davidwen
😁 WHO AM I?
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I grew up in San Francisco, studied and worked in LA, took a sabbatical around the world, and then packed my bags for Europe. I make videos about lifestyle design, hiking, and living/working/studying in Europe.
#lifeinthenetherlands #livinginamsterdam #expatlife

[@Assassin546]

Great video, I love Amsterdam. Especially the vibe and the historic buildings. Keep posting these types of videos! Greetings from Norway

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Arve. Yeah I still love it. Would love to visit Norway one day too!

[@scanndaall]

The congratulating a person with someone else's birthday is so weird. I'm born and bred in The Netherlands with a Dutch mum and a British dad. Though it's a standard thing here, my English side just can't comprehend 😂 It's really cool to see an 'outsider perspective' on a place where i've lived my whole life!

[@hidavidwen]

Hahaha it's still weird! But in a fun kind of way :)

[@robertboender5816]

Hey David, again a great video and yes we're blessed this summer and more warm weather to come. Keep informing people about our little country and hope some day you can really call it home.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for the kind words Robert! Yes, very happy to inform people about this little BIG country =) Happy summer to you! ☀️

[@777sasha333]

Thank you very much for this video I'm really fascinated about your experience and storytelling because you have an excellent Storytelling skill

[@hidavidwen]

Aw thank you so much! 🙏

[@ODAMtv]

Thank you for showing the daily life in Amsterdam.

[@hidavidwen]

You’re welcome and thanks for your kind words!

[@maglow6807]

Hey David! Great video to end a Friday. Got me chuckling to see so many cows wandering around. The ones with horns look menacing. And it is wonderful to be able to do walk in the mornings before heading to office. Have a great weekend!

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Mag, thanks! Haha yeah the cows...they're everywhere in this country. Have a great one yourself and take care =)

[@garrett3338]

Hi David, a really great video. The office looks like a great place to work. I love all the cows!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Garrett! Haha yes the cows...they're part of the benefits package of working here!

[@Yourhighnessnona]

This was so much fun! 🥰

[@hidavidwen]

😄😄🙏 Nona

[@jimwarren9947]

Thank you! I love the video. I am headed to AMS next week, for my annual trip. I hope to do DAFT this year or next. you honest video was very helpful - my hotel rooms are always a bit hot, now that I think of it!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Jim. Where will you be moving from? Thank goodness…those hot, stuffy days are only a few times a year :)

[@jimwarren9947]

I live in LA. The video suggested you are leaving your apartment? Do you happen to have any info on a short term canal apartment?

[@SALVATl0N]

I just wanted to say thank you for your professionally done Amsterdam videos. We are coming in March to start the process of moving there ourselves. I've watched the entire Netherlands Rabit hole on you KZbin. Your videos have the best production quality BY FAR. They are so nice to watch after all the others I have slogged through : )

[@hidavidwen]

Wow thanks so much, I really appreciate the kind words 🙏 Just gave me a boost of motivation. If there’s anything you’d like to learn more about, let me know! March is coming up! Where are you moving from?

[@fritzismaling80]

@@hidavidwen ..

[@inneralignmentwithcathy]

Miss the chill vibes in Amsterdam! Hope to move back soon. Nice video!

[@joebloggs2473]

There are more places than the dump of Amsterdam.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Cathy! When were you in Amsterdam? Yeah Amsterdam is beautiful!

[@joebloggs2473]

@@hidavidwen When you live longer in this country you realise what for city Amsterdam is. It is not the best by far. It attracts a lot of tourists for the wrong reasons. If they are happy(which the gemeente certainly is not) with this terrible situation I will leave them to it so long as I (many Dutchmen feel the same) am not required to go there.

[@joebloggs2473]

@@hidavidwen You are joking David.

[@anastasiasharova2075]

I've recently moved to the Netherlands, and I'm learning the Dutch way of living from your videos haha interesting and helpful 👍🙂

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Anastasia - thanks and welcome to the Netherlands =) Hope you're enjoying it so far (it's been a nice summer this year). Do you have any other ideas of what other videos I could make? 🤔

[@anastasiasharova2075]

@@hidavidwen yes - biking culture! also, bought a bike so I wonder if there are any "unspoken" rules I might not be aware of 😅

[@hidavidwen]

@@anastasiasharova2075 🚲🚲. Unspoken rules...now I'm curious...well spontaneity and showing up unannounced are not common haha. Thanks for the idea!

[@thomastwiss2]

@@anastasiasharova2075 i am dutch and the most important rule related to bikes are that pedestrians should NEVER walk on the bikepaths!! hahaha you will easily be runover within a few seconds… and watch out for scooters and sometimes bigger motorcycles they are also allowed to use these biking paths

[@kuursma1987]

@@hidavidwen showing op unannounced and spontaneity are very normal outside the “big” cities in the Netherlands. I live in Friesland and friends family and neighbors just randomly walk in and out. Especially in the weekends. Culture in the provinces are very different from those in Amsterdam

[@andydeeeu]

Wonderful video; thanks 😊!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Andy!

[@sharonsmith1783]

Hi, I just want to assure anyone watching from outside the Nederlands, that the canteen lady handling food with bare hands is neither in accordance with our guidelines or typical in her habits. Latex gloves or tongs are the norm here.

[@leendewaardt8937]

Being born in 1961 make me feel your concern for the use of latex gloves us really hilarious. Humankind has survived for many many thousends of years without these germ precautions. They really make us very weak as a species for they prevent us from aquiring resistance to germs. And yes old and sick people may die from germs. And certainly a lot quicker if you have not build any resistance during your lifetime. So I suggest to ban latex gloves for the good of pur health

[@sharonsmith1783]

@@leendewaardt8937 I was born a decade earlier if it is relevant. The understanding of hygiene was already a science taught in school. Pie or fish and chip shops already used tongs and scoops. How you organise food at home is a choice. Serving food for profit is fortunately regulated by law. I know for a fact that many people neglect to wash their hands and are regulary touching their face and hair. Eating out shouldn't be playing Russian roulette with your guts. We inevitably consume germs and not all are harmful , but it's enough to keep our immune systems functioning.

[@leendewaardt8937]

@@sharonsmith1783 people are also touching their face, hair and other contaminated surfaces with the gloves on. So what is your point?

[@sharonsmith1783]

@@leendewaardt8937 I find the wearing of gloves can remind people to follow guidelines. No part of my opinion stops you from doing as you please. I hope you are not taking the disagreement too personally. It was not my intention. I hope this response is adequate, as I have no other to make.

[@millennial_bug]

@@leendewaardt8937 moreover they produce an enormous bloat of difficoult to handle plastic rubbish

[@sarahjkwok]

Still bright out at 9pm, crazy

[@hidavidwen]

Haha hey hey! Yeah back in June...it was still bright out at 11pm.

[@paoloernesto2591]

Nice video. I've been twice in Amsterdam years ago. I liked so much that I've been learning Dutch thinking on a next trip. Where I live sun rises and sets always at same time, around 5h30 am and pm respectively, so it was quite unusual for me seeing a sunset at 9 pm.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Paolo - yeah the summers are beautiful with long days...right now in the winter, it's the opposite. It's quite depressing with the sun rising at 8-9am and setting around 4pm...plus usually there is no sun in the day too haha But yes, Amsterdam is great!

[@Hristiyan1991]

Hey David! Thank you for sharing that interesting video. I'm planning to move soon to Amsterdam for work ( self improvement and gaining better professional skills ) and change the place for a while. P.S. Your working place seems very exciting and interesting ( especially the coffee 😁) . Have a successful and enjoyable week!🤘

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks and best of luck! You too!

[@danchien1504]

Wow what a wonderful day! Everything looks super fun and you need to buy yourself some better coffee to have something to look forward to after you wake up 😆 hoping to visit Amsterdam someday!

[@hidavidwen]

Haha thanks Dan. I do need better coffee. Right now, I'm prioritizing time > taste. But I do go to cafes several times a week to get my real coffee fix. Hope you can visit soon!

[@hansonel]

Helpful to see a day in the life. Planning on moving to The Netherlands via a job or DAFT (if I can find housing since the current housing crisis in the NL is no joke) within the next year or so and have been turning off my AC at home to prepare for no AC in Europe among other things to reduce culture shock. Though, having gone through heatwaves growing up with no air conditioning I'm not looking forward to those hot and sticky night trying to sleep.

[@hidavidwen]

Great to hear! Oh I hope you are able to make the move within the next year-I think you'll really enjoy it. The no AC thing isn't a problem (except a few days in any given year)...most of the year, it's fine. You'll be wanting more sun! Housing crisis is a real thing...good luck with that, we all need it. August/Sept is usually the craziest because that's when students are moving in

[@marioprivacy9411]

Enjoyed, as always very nice. Is it just me because I'm so focused on that, or do you never talk about a love life, or just that there isn't one? (or did I miss that, if so which episode?)

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for the kind words! Hm love life...interesting topic 🤔😊

[@marioprivacy9411]

@@hidavidwen 😊 of course you are way too busy shooting and editing videos to have a love life.

[@kappi2464]

You’re living my dream 🥺

[@hidavidwen]

Hopefully you can realize your dream one day?

[@machtmann2881]

It was great to see a day in your life in the summer over there! I often go to the office here in Berlin. Not only because of the heat (they have big fans and even A/C on the top floor) but for being social too. Since I'm in a new city/country, it's nice to get to know people and pick up random info about the city. Even if no one is there, I end up with more space and privacy at work than at home anyway haha (in shared housing atm). Are towns with beaches over there not only beach towns? By that I mean, that if a town has a beach, then does the town and its economy not revolve around the beach? I tend to find that to be pretty common in the States but Den Haag is probably not like that (EDIT: well, I suppose LA isn't only a beach town. I tend to think of places like Miami or Virginia Beach when I think of those though)

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Chris! Yeah I like going to the office for the social aspect and the free space too (I don’t really have an office at home) And Den Haag is a special place…it’s not known for its beaches but there are beaches, dunes, and many beach cafes and restaurants around and it does feel like a vacation when you’re there on a nice summer day.

[@eefaaf]

Long stretches of beach in Noord and Zuid Holland are backed by dunes. The d's unes are peppered with a few towns that have 'aan zee' as the last part of there name, and you will see the same name without that addition more inland, those being the larger of the two (or three). There are few coastal roads but there is a long bicicle path all the way from Scheveningen to Zandvoort, two of the larger and more touristic beach towns. Zandvoort is a very popular spot for people living in Amsterdam, as there is a direct train service that practically ends on the beach, no need for a bike, just a few minutes walk. It's also the one spot where there is a long(ish) road for cars to go along the beach, ending at 'Bloemendaal aan Zee', that is part of the municipality of Bloemendaal, but the town proper is several kilometers inland, as the dunes (Kennemerduinen reserve) are the widest at this point. The road (the Zeeweg) to between the town and the coast has been designed by an architect, although his artistic effort had to be adjusted as one of the curves tended to cause too many accidents.

[@SatyadeepRoat]

I didn't know Vondelpark was so empty in the morning. During evening hours, it's crazily crowded.

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Satyadeep - haha yeah I love it in the morning…less people. It does get crowded later, especially on a nice day

[@Katya_Izumrudnaya]

Hello , David ! So , this is so interesting video , you make feeling me good . I like that city so much! Hello, from Russia !) With love.

[@hidavidwen]

🙌🙌

[@MrunalKapadia]

Awesome video as always. Next if possible, can you please make a video on healthcare in The Netherlands, especially for expats and what to expect when someone is coming with co-morbidities like Diabetes, Hypertension etc. I've read several medical misdiagnosis / not getting diagnosed at right time - stories on social networks in Amsterdam and other cities in NL and would like your own opinion on this...

[@STOOK5]

What do you do for work in this video?

[@blindpilot3849]

Haha so we might have crossed paths already at several locations😅 (Vondelpark, Lelylaan etc but I am very bad recognizing faces, especially in the morning while still half asleep)😅

[@hidavidwen]

Hahaha it's a small world here. Perhaps, perhaps. Yeah I usually sleep or listen to a podcast on the train.

[@yvonnebirch6026]

Ah my park ! My first 40 years in Amsterdam. Sigh, een beetje heimwee 💜💜💜

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Yvonne! Oh wow 40 years…I’m so curious to hear how it was like 40 years ago. 💙

[@yvonnebirch6026]

@@hidavidwen I was born in 1935 in the van Breestraat in oud zuid. My family lived there, my father had his office there In the same house. I lived there later with my son until we left for California in 74 to marry my American husband. The Vondel park was our playground. My mother took as there as babies. Later I took my baby there. The Van Breestraat was a quiet neighborhood . It was close to the park. We had all the small markets close by in walking distance. As well as coffee shops and small restaurants. Of course we also had the WW2 and the German occupation. We survived and so did the neighborhood. Amsterdam was a lot quieter then. People didn’t travel as much. No hordes of tourists.

[@LunaVioletta7]

Thank you for this very helpful video! I'm also an Asian-American born & raised in the Bay (currently living in NYC), and I'm heavily considering moving to Amsterdam next year, given how things are in the US... I wanted to ask you a few questions about your experience as an expat (and also about your experience working in what looks like tech, since that's also the industry I'm in), but it seems like you don't have Instagram? :( Is there another way to reach you?

[@madhawan111]

Hi David, love these videos but I want to understand your perspective on couple of things very pertinent to the Netherlands and EU 1. The falling euro and the recession signs- do you think this could have an impact on your future in the Netherlands and for other expats planning to move there? 2. Subsequently, increased cost of living specially housing and gas. Do you think the EU salaries in tech are being adjusted accordingly to counter these increased costs?

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing Madhawan. My personal thoughts… 1. The recession could impact me if I don’t have a job to sponsor my visa. That is a concern. But my main motivation for moving here was a lifestyle decision and not a financial one. 2. That’s a big concern. Companies are not increasing salaries as much as inflation (true everywhere). You need to leave your job to get a better salary (true everywhere). Depends on your motivation. I still want to be here for now but…but if it doesn’t work out, I could always go back to California or figure something out…life will work itself out.

[@Benny_000]

Hey you work in the "Not Just Bikes" businesspark in Hoofddorp :)

[@hidavidwen]

Do I?? :)

[@Benny_000]

@@hidavidwen Yes and it might be one of the most famous business parks on youtube :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXW7c2N5jpenibM

[@bristideb8257]

Hi thanks for this video! I have a child and I would want to move to NL for better upbringing. How are job prospects in NL for master students graduating from public health?

[@hidavidwen]

You’re welcome! Not entirely sure but I do know education here is high quality. Depending on the type of public health, I’d say the job hurdle may be the language (Dutch). But for many jobs in international environments/companies, English is sufficient

[@prakashwillrocku]

❤❤❤

[@bertkassing8541]

Hmm, funny. I didn't know you worked in my hometown of Hoofddorp. Funny. Of course I recognize where you were walking. Hoofddorp has actually become a kind of suburb of Amsterdam.

[@hidavidwen]

Haha thanks for sharing Bert. Hoofddorp! It's like my 2nd home now (literally)...over the past few years.

[@bertkassing8541]

And when I see those images you lead a terribly hard life here in the Netherlands :-)

[@hidavidwen]

😂

[@johnrussell519]

What company do you work at?

[@tcol]

Hey, we are neighbors, and I think I once interviewed at the company you work at 😂 small world.

[@hidavidwen]

Haha it's a small world in the NL indeed!

[@adamc.7795]

Tell me you're a fan of Douwe Egbert coffee too? That stuff is amazing, not sure Blue Bottle Coffee can compare to it.

[@hidavidwen]

Oh I do think Blue Bottle is A LOT better than Douwe Egbert!

[@jennybertenshaw7694]

Whoh How different your life is to ours of 1983 when we moved to NL Work/life balance certainly looks a lot less stressed than mine was.You don't talk ?about learning the language? a MUST in our day Io. I do miss the summers ( IN Brabant NOT the cities) but NOT the miserable winters

[@hidavidwen]

Woah 1983! Where are you now? I’m sure so much has changed over the years…so nice to get your comment. What was different back then?

[@seand9089]

David do you go to the brothels?

[@xXErr4rXx]

DAVIDDDD!!!!! DO YOU VISIT THE BROTHEEEELSSS!!!

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

There are a lot of ex pets in Amsterdam, they live in the parks usually :)

[@hidavidwen]

Literally in the parks? =) But I see a lot of them hanging out in the parks too haha

[@leandrog2785]

You mean stray animals?

[@adamc.7795]

That looks really great there. I am Dutch German and Italian and never thought of visiting nor had the time off to visit those countries, just Aruba so far!

[@AtlantisWisdom]

Which type of job are you doing from remote?

[@hidavidwen]

I work in an office with hybrid working policy

[@AtlantisWisdom]

@@hidavidwen that's beautiful, is easy to find a job in the netherlands? Do you someone or some app ?

[@hidavidwen]

@@AtlantisWisdom LinkedIn is the best place to find jobs in my opinion. Easy is subjective haha...it's easy if you are a software engineer =)

[@AtlantisWisdom]

@@hidavidwen how become a software engineer? What about web developers and data analist?

[@arielext]

Worldline?

[@callous21]

What kind of work I wonder. Do you have to speak dutch?

[@hidavidwen]

I work for an international company. No Dutch is necessary though I'm trying to learn

[@JeffreyHowell-mk9mr]

Sounds like a Dutch sandwich is just like what any other sandwich around the world is, bread meat cheese.

[@hidavidwen]

Haha yeah. Well depends on the country too. In the US, a sandwich usually has more than just cheese and meat.

[@LifesAPeachy]

I love these random cows 🤣 I’d love to see them hah

[@hidavidwen]

They’re everywhere haha

[@cindybogard8684]

Wait, what? Say more about the cows who are just lounging by the canal!

[@Tenju96]

26°C is too hot ? ^^ The US have a really weird relationship with AC.. Don't move more south to Netherlands, we still don't have AC, and we can only wish our summers would be 26° ^^'

[@hidavidwen]

Haha 26C (almost 80F) is hot indoors!

[@Tenju96]

I had to sleep with 34°C indoors last summer, no AC x) and yes it was hot ^^

[@Tenju96]

I think in the US you're used to having 20°C everywhere all the time? A guy explained this to me, at the office, in the car, 20°C everywhere all year long. ^^ I don't know if it's still like this but I remember having to wear a sweater in the stores in Tennessee during summer because the AC was freezing x) In France we don't have AC that much, we didn't need one until a few years ago but it's getting unbearable

[@understandingyourself]

Hey man, lovely video, could you tell me what is the name of the sans serif wide font? Thanks

[@hidavidwen]

You're welcome! It's called "Akira Expanded"

[@atelesh]

If my breakfasts looked like this I would be starving in 30 minutes. In our slavic culture we have a pronoun that says: eat your breakfast yourself, share your lunch with a friend, and leave the dinner for your enemy.

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Anton - haha yeah I understand. I usually don’t do big breakfasts myself (sometimes I fast). But I’m a big fan of food. Sounds like lunch is the biggest meal for you?

[@atelesh]

@@hidavidwen Only if you have many friends :)

[@jimmymiata]

many people have AC in their houses but its not standard

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing jim. Yeah definitely not standard

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

It's been a very very bad summer actually, way way too dry, rivers are out of water, grass turning brown...record heat... we need rain desperately here in the EU..

[@hidavidwen]

The heat waves were terrible...I couldn't sleep

[@johnveerkamp1501]

Ze moeten wel op een verjaardag. LANG ZAL ZE LEVEN. Zingen. Dat is echt NEDERLANDS.

[@amorayyyyy]

I think I should be used to bicycles by now. My town has too many cyclists. Your definition of hot is cold for me. I am used to temperatures up to 32C. I am glad they hosted the conference online, people like me have the wrong kind of personality for jobs. Just mostly introverted.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Florence. Haha yes I am also used to hotter temperatures (it gets pretty hot in LA where I lived previously) but...the thing that kills me is that there is no AC =/ And there are mosquitoes at night. So I cannot even sleep. Good thing it's only a few days out of the year, but it's horrible. And hello fellow introvert-I can relate as well =)

[@amorayyyyy]

@@hidavidwen I am glad that you endured all those inconveniences. Most people would have just left and oh no. My oldest rival, mosquitos. Those insects can just grow still water so you might want to get rid of excess water in your house.

[@Kaigaitobo]

Completely different from a day of my life in a good way😓

[@hidavidwen]

Haha that was summer. Day in the life during winter = 🥔🍷📚 What does your day look like?

[@Kaigaitobo]

@@hidavidwen Day of the life in winter might be a good idea for your new video then😄 let’s say mine is more poor and less people involved haha (but I’m happy like you) As an expat in Amsterdam, I enjoy watching your videos a lot!

[@mongoliagolia9172]

Do you see yourself living in NL until you retire?

[@hidavidwen]

Hey! Oh....that's a BIG question. I don't know is the real answer. I don't even know in 5 or 10 years. A lot could happen. But I do like it right now in the present moment =)

[@marksecker6606]

So you can afford to live in Amsterdam? But you can not afford airco? For that appartment it would just set you back around 350 euro for a good unit.

[@hidavidwen]

Yeahhh well most days..it’s not necessary. But yeah with every day getting warmer..it may be necessary one day in the future :/

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Normally grass is ALWAYS green, not brown... very bad sign...

[@2500dozo]

Klaagaal

[@chernovdmytro]

I'm from Ukraine , right now live in Poland, but I want to

[@halimazw123]

صباح الخير

[@hidavidwen]

صباح الخي

[@godschild5587]

4:40 no gloves

[@blazn0]

Or what ever cutlery🤮

[@mongoliagolia9172]

And why are there random cows 😂

[@hidavidwen]

That's the Netherlands for you! Sometimes there are sheep. Sometimes sheep, cows, and ducks all together just enjoying the sun.

[@Ridder020]

Learn Dutch

[@peet4921]

There are a lot of people who have AC, me for example, but to live in a Dutch climate, having it is kinda excessive.

[@hidavidwen]

Oh you must've been one of the lucky ones during the past few heatwaves! But you're right, it's excessive most of the year...it's cloudy and rainy hah

[@peet4921]

@@hidavidwen Yep.

[@the_videos11]

Send me your pictures for promotion

[@bcvanrijswijk]

You must be very satisfied after such a hard day's work and so much productivity. 😏 What an incredibly spoiled generation. I hope things don't go the other way for you, because I don't think you will survive that.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Ben for your concern! Take care

[@marcusfranconium3392]

stop using the word expat your an immigrant no more no less.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing Marcus. An expat is defined as a person who lives outside their native country. An immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country. I'm not here permanently at the moment so technically I'm considered an expat. And if we want to get technical, if we look at the history of humankind-we are all immigrants who have moved around the world. So yes, we are all immigrants. Take care and have a nice day!